Hot Topics
Sign up for:
5 Ways to Stay Connected!
Free monthly
e-newsletter (includes a Quick Tip)
Follow us on Twitter
Get podcast of Hot Topic
Access our news feedMarch 2006
A Call to Action on Behalf of Our Profession - UPDATE
By Susan J. Ellis
Posted to VRM-Roundtable on April 6, 2006
Hello everyone --
[intro deleted]
The reason for this post now is to discuss the issue of who holds legitimacy in moving forward to develop anything new. On one hand, I totally believe that anyone willing to put in the "sweat equity" by volunteering ideas, time, and money has the right to organize anything they want. Obviously, individual practitioners have the option to buy in or not and our field is big enough that we can have several fledgling groups if we can't agree on one vision. But on the other hand, we need to recognize that there are some extremely appropriate leaders who might need our support to step into the current vacuum. I am talking about those duly-elected officers of existing -- and, in some cases, thriving -- local professional networks for volunteerism practitioners.
Here is my thinking, and I have run this by a number of colleagues before posting here. Further, both Stephen Nill of CharityChannel and Pam Feldman of POLF have offered substantive assistance if these colleagues want it, which I'll get to in a moment.
- There are probably hundreds of leaders of volunteer efforts capable of starting and running a new association. But it is unrealistic to expect people to self-select and jump into the fray -- on a national level, no less -- to actually organize such an association (which is quite different from helping with one).
- One of AVA's biggest mistakes in the past was to eliminate a regional structure. Sure we had problems making many of the regions work well -- though some were very active -- but removing any intermediate level between individual members and the national organization effectively removed any capacity to convene, poll, or represent smaller clusters of members on anything. At the same time, there was always discussion of the role of "affiliate" member organizations and, in recent years, a growing number of DOVIAs and state associations not only joined AVA but even aligned their names to be an "AVA" (though locally this stands for Association of Volunteer Administrators, not tion). These local and state networks were caught by surprise at the demise of AVA just like individual members.
- Recent ex-AVA board members cannot be on the board of a new association because that would open any new group to the possibility of suit for unpaid AVA debts, not to mention raising serious questions of seriousness in running a new association with more accountability.
- But we have some remarkable colleagues in local associations already a) willing to serve the field and doing so, b) elected by practitioners in the field to leadership roles, and c) having every reason to want to federate with other associations in other geographic locations. Official representatives of GAVA (Georgia), NCAVA (North Carolina), MAVA (Minnesota), WVCTI (Wisconsin), and other states, plus the city-based DOVIAs such as NYAVA (New York City) or DVAVA (Delaware Valley, Philadelphia) would seem to be the perfect group to run the June meeting at the POLF conference and form an initial steering committee. They would have legitimacy of all types.
- What I am NOT proposing (I hasten to put this here because I can already hear my friends and colleagues who are officers of these groups run shrieking for the hills at the thought of some new, unexpected, major responsibility!): I am NOT saying these representatives should become a new board of directors, just a legitimate steering committee for the transition. I am NOT saying no one else should be allowed to participate, just that even six to ten of these representatives could begin a formal process of soliciting more volunteers, tracking their contact information, and put them to work. I am NOT asking the presidents of these groups to be the representatives (though that would be really impressive to funders); what's important is that the representatives come to the table with the blessing of each group and authorized to form a network (formal, informal, whatever) with the other representatives. I am NOT asking the local groups to fund all this, though I AM suggesting that the representatives be able to use their association's funds to participate in meetings for a year, since the outcome ought to be so win-win.
Here are the two substantive offers of help:
- Stephen Nill is willing to set up a separate listserv through VRM-Roundtable specifically for official representatives of any existing volunteerism professional association, if you wish. The goal is to allow you a forum to "meet" and exchange ideas, particularly to discuss what might be the role of these various local associations in reorganizing a national one. If you want to participate in such a list, contact him directly at stephen.nill@vrm-roundtable.org and he'll work with you immediately. (As I am not currently an officer of my DVAVA, I will not be on this list.)
- Pam Feldmann, who has served on the VRM-Roundtable Survey Group and is providing space in Seattle at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service for the on-site meeting, has offered to find another meeting space (at no charge) to this group of local association leaders, should they agree with this whole idea, work in advance via the listserv or conference calls, and be willing to meet earlier in the day on Saturday, June 17 so that they can effectively run the 4:30 open meeting. Please contact her directly at PFeldmann@pointsoflight.org.
Again, I want to be clear as to the reason for this proposal. It has been gratifying to see many new names appear in this discussion group over the last few weeks. There has not been too much posting from people with first-hand history of the 30+ years of AVA (both good and bad -- and there were examples of both!), partially because of concern over the lack of credible voices and the continuing visibility of AVA board members. I had hoped someone else would have noted the existence of the talent pool of elected officers at the local level, but finally felt I had to do so. We are not without resources! And we do not have to start from scratch. Let's finally do what AVA never could – unite our field by building on local strengths and fostering new local talent.
Susan
==============================
Susan J. Ellis
President
Energize, Inc.
5450 Wissahickon Avenue, Box C-13
Philadelphia, PA 19144
voice: 215-438-8342
fax: 215-438-0434
e-mail: susan@energizeinc.com
Web site: <http://www.energizeinc.com>
4/19/06
Let's Hear What You Think
An international online journal to keep you current on trends, research, successes...
Learn more | Subscribe
Online training for individuals, organizations or corporations to work successfully with volunteers. Learn more
